While coaches and players talked optimistically about the approaching season, negative news stole the spotlight on Day 1 of fall camp.

E.J. Savannah was left off the roster, and Tyrone Willingham said the linebacker is academically ineligible, but that he will not automatically be back on the team if he clears those hurdles.

“His situation is that right now he is academically ineligible,” Willingham said. “If that is cured, then we will at that time talk about his status with the team.

Willingham wouldn’t go into details as to what those academic or other issues are, and described the linebacker’s absence as “indefinite.”

Asked how long he might guess Savannah would be out, Willingham answered:

“I wouldn’t right now,” he said. “Sometimes those things can change overnight, sometimes it may be forever.”

Without Savannah, the starting linebackers would be Donald Butler, Josh Gage and Mason Foster.

Also missing from the roster were freshmen Vince Taylor, Demitruis Bronson, Craig Noble and Senio Kelemete. Washington has 101 players on their roster, but can have up to 105, meaning at least one of those four freshmen, who are also facing academic issues, or Savannah, won’t likely be joining the team this fall.

The other news of the day, which came out after the media talked to Willingham (meaning we didn’t get to ask him about it) was the arrest of tight end Chris Izbicki. Izbicki a redshirt freshman who figured to compete with true freshman Kavario Middleton for the backup job behind Michael Gottlieb, is facing two misdemeanor charges in King County Court, one for second degree criminal trespass, and one for minor in possession of liquor.

Izbicki was arrested July 20 at the White River Amphitheatre attending the KUBE Summer Jam Concert. According to a police report, he was twice removed from a VIP area without being arrested before he was placed into custody upon returning to the venue after being told to leave. Izbicki then recorded a .241 reading after taking a voluntary breath test.

A few other notes that should be less depressing to Husky fans:

It is assumed that Jake Locker needs to become a more accurate passer this season for the Huskies to succeed this season (he complete 47 percent of his passes last season). On Monday, Locker made it clear he has no problem aiming high, saying that 65 percent seemed like a “good number to shoot for.”

Willingham said that starting guard Ryan Tolar, who sat out the spring recovering from shoulder surgery, is healthy and ready to play. Safety Jason Wells, who tore his ACL against USC last season, said he is close to 100 percent, and while he won’t be quite at 100 percent to start fall camp, he should be ready for the season opener.

Donald Butler, who was slowed last season by a knee injury, said he is finally 100 percent heading into fall camp.

Cautious optimism continues to be the status on Juan Garcia and his foot injury. The word is that he is still progressing well from his Lisfranc sprain, but there is no timetable on when he will be ready to play.